Specialties
Biography
Dr. John Wessel is a fellowship-trained Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, completing his training in Charlotte, NC, under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Farrell.
After obtaining his doctoral degrees from Harvard School of Dental Medicine and New Jersey Medical School, he devoted one year focusing on advanced Orthognathic and TMJ surgery. Dr. Wessel is able to comprehensively evaluate the facial skeleton to correct dentofacial deformities. He is passionate about the powerful changes corrective jaw surgery can provide—changes in opening the airway, providing optimal occlusion, and improving facial aesthetics.
Hailing from Armada, Michigan, Dr. Wessel graduated as Valedictorian from high school. He attended University of Michigan obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, graduating with honors. He then attended Harvard School of Dental Medicine where he obtained his DMD and graduated summa cum laude. While at Harvard, he published on the topic of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws. His research would later be used to help develop the standard of care for treating this disease.
After dental school, Dr. Wessel completed his residency training at the Rutgers Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Program in Newark, NJ. During this time he also obtained his Medical Doctorate from the New Jersey Medical School and completed a one year internship in general surgery. During residency training Dr. Wessel enjoyed participating in the education of dental students, lecturing on various topics such as patient management, obstructive sleep apnea, and numerous medical diseases. Dr. Wessel has traveled multiple times to perform cleft lip and palate repair to the indigenous people of Bangladesh, with the non-profit group Smile Bangladesh.
Certifications & Professional Associations
- Board-certified by the American Board for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS)
- American Dental Association(ADA)
- Association or Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS)
- South Carolina Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Education
- BS in Biology—University of Michigan
- Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)—Harvard School of Dental Medicine (summa cum laude)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)—New Jersey Medical School
- Residency and Fellowship—Rutgers Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Program
